Combusting Hearts

Chapter 20

Something had happened, something terrible. I could feel myself shaking and crying. I was angry and heartbroken. All that I could think about was running away, running away like I had always done any other time before that. I had to run, simple as that.

The next thing I know, I'm out in the cold of evening, racing toward one of the motorcycles. I don't know what was going through my mind when I picked that to take, but I did it. I got on it, started it up, and I left.

I raced out into the street, not once even attempting to look back. There was nothing that would stop me now, nothing at all. Although, the tears that ran down my face bothered me greatly. They ran down my face, covered by my helmet as they met my neck. I was wearing the helmet that Logan had given me, currently the only thing that gave me comfort.

I continued to race on, even with parts of the roads icy, I just didn't care anymore.

"How could you…"

That's was the last thing that I said, before hitting a patch of ice that sent me out of control, and flying toward the ground.

I shot up in my bed, gasping for air as I found myself drenched in a cold sweat. I held my head in my hands before crying.

"What was that…?" I whispered, trying to get my breathing back under control.

It had seemed so real, as though it had actually happen or…would happen. I had no clue what was going on, but it scared me greatly.

I looked at my clock, to find that it was like 5 o'clock in the morning, meaning that everyone was still in bed. It had been about 2 weeks now since Christmas, and everyone was now back to school. That also meant Slick, Ram, and Sham as well.

I sighed as I got out of bed, walking over to my dresser drawers and pulled out a pair of my new clothes that I had gotten for Christmas. I was so thankful that they had given me clothes, opposed to something else. Although, I had still gotten other stuff of course, but I still liked my clothes.

Trying to get the dream out of my head, I slipped hummed to myself while slipping my clothes on, before heading downstairs. Even then, I still couldn't seem to get it out of my head.

"I hate this…" I whispered, walking into the kitchen and flipping the lights on.

"What do you hate?"

I jumped at hearing voice, smacking my hand into the wall a moment later.

"God, Logan, don't scare me like that!" I yelled, placing my hand over my heart.

"Sorry kid, didn't think you'd be up this early," he said.

I just groaned at this, turning back around and going to the fridge.

"Well, I am AND I can't sleep," I told him, pulling out some milk from the fridge and cereal from the shelf.

I then sat down at the table and poured myself some cereal, watching as Logan sat down across from me.

"Bad dream or something?" he asked.

I nodded my head quietly as I stuffed a spoon full of cereal into my mouth.

"What was it about?"

I had to hold up a finger as I swallowed.

"Don't really know, but it freaked me out," I told him, continuing to eat my cereal.

It was true though, I really didn't know what it was about, but I honestly didn't want to talk about it because it had me worried and utterly unnerved as well.

"Freaked you out, huh?"

I groaned quietly, but I know that he still heard it.

"Logan, please, I really don't wanna talk about it, okay?"

Before he say anything else about it, I finished my cereal and placed the bowl in the sink, leaving the kitchen.

Since I didn't have anything else to do, I retrieved my fleece jacket and went outside.

"At least it doesn't feel as tense out here," I whispered to myself, looking over the grounds.

It was so quiet out here, so peaceful, and beautiful.

"I wish things could always be like this…"

They can, do a degree, Elaine.

I near jumped when I heard the Professor.

"Professor? What are you doing out here?" I asked, turned around to face him.

The man just gave me a small smile from his wheelchair.

"I was going to ask you the same thing my dear," he said, "Now, why are you out here by yourself, Elaine," he asked curiously.

I sighed, closing my eyes.

"I…I had a dream that freaked me out, so I got up, ate, then came out here for some quiet to clear my mind," I explained to him, opening my eyes to gaze up at the horizon.

The sun always came out earlier in the winter months. Now, it was slowly starting to peek the horizon, changing the colors in the sky. It was beautiful as I sat there watching the pinks and purples slowly appear in the sky.

"Professor?" I started as I kept my gaze on the horizon.

I could feel his stare on me as I sat there, trying to think of what to say next.

"How is it…that I have so many abilities?" I asked quietly.

"I'm not sure, Elaine, but I've been trying to figure it out. In all honesty, Elaine, you are a very special young woman," he told me, placing a hand gently on my shoulder.

"But…I don't like being special, Professor," I whispered, placing my face in my hands.

It was so frustrating. I mean, it's not as if I asked for this crap and yet, here it is anyway.

"Elaine?" he asked with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine Professor, just…tired," I assured him as I stood up and stared at the sky.

People would be getting up soon, getting ready for class, but I still had time to wait. So, wait I did as the Professor went back inside, leaving me to my thoughts. I even went as far as to sit beneath a snow-covered tree out in the courtyard for a while as I waited for the time to pass.

The rest of the day, I didn't really pay much attention to my classes. My mind kept going back to the dream that I had had. Unfortunately, I hadn't seen enough of it to make much sense of it, but it still bothered me.

"Kid, watch out!" Logan yelled, but it was too late, I got hit in the shoulder from behind.

I groaned as I fell to the floor of the danger room, holding my shoulder in pain.

"The hell is wrong with you!?" he yelled at the person behind me.

I turned to find Slick standing there with a smug look on his face. He held his hands up in defense as he took a couple steps back.

"Sorry, Logan, I forgot that she was on my team," he said.

Bull crap! I thought, groaning again as I slowly stood up holding my shoulder. It hurt like hell and right now I was thoroughly pissed off. Before I could do anything that I would regret though, I left the danger room along with the building and sat as far away from the place outside as I could.

"Freaking jerk," I growled under my breath as I laid my head against one of the trees.

I could feel the burning energy in my hands as I sat there, but refused to let it out. I didn't want to damage anything. Even with that though, I felt the anger and confusion trying to take over as it does every now and then. I jumped though when I heard a voice beside me.

"Bonjour, cheri," Gambit greeted.

"Remy…" I sighed heavily as I closed my eyes, my hand balling up a bit.

"Somet'in' wrong, cheri?" he asked, taking a seat next to me on the cold snowy ground.

"Slick," I growled out, groaning from the pain in my shoulder.

"What he do?" he asked, his voice now holding an upset tone to it.

"Jerk hit me in the shoulder," I grumbled, before flinching as he placed a hand on it.

Carefully, he pulled the shoulder of my shirt down, revealing red skin. I felt him recoil for a moment before he gently placed his palm on it, making me hiss in pain.

"Sorry, cheri," he said, removing his hand. "Maybe I should knock some since into him?" he suggested, but I just shook my head.

"No, if you want to do something, get rid of this," I held up my hand that was still glowing a faint red.

"Cheri," he sighed as he took hold of my hand, absorbing the lingering power that was there. "You shouldn't let him get to ya like d'at, cheri," he said, rubbing the top of my hand with his thumb.

"I know, Remy, but I can't help it…" my voice grew quiet at the end as I grew slightly upset with myself.

I had let Slick get to me too easily, but I couldn't help it. I mean, he DID haul off and hit me when he knew full well that I was on his team.

"I'm sorry, Remy," I whispered, burying my face in my arms, wincing as the muscle in my shoulder moved.

"Aw, come on, cheri, is not your fault," he said, carefully placing his arm around my shoulders. "D'e only t'ing gonna be your fault, is if you keep sittin' out here like d'is," he told me with a small smile on his face.

This got me to laugh. So, I gave him a small smile and got up with him helping me up. God, my shoulder was killing me and Slick, oh, he was DEAD meat.

"Don' worry, cheri, we'll get him," Gambit promised as he helped me inside.

"I know, but it's still annoying," I told him, groaning once more from my shoulder.

"Well, why don' you sit down on d'e couch while Gambit get some ice for d'at shoulder o' yours," he suggested, leading me over to the couch, before going to the kitchen.

"Man this hurts," I whined, rubbing my shoulder painfully.

No doubt, there was going to be a major bruise there showing up soon. In fact, I think it's probably already starting to show up, I just can't see it from where I'm at. I had to stop trying to look at it though when Gambit came back in, a small bag of ice in his hand.

This was going to hurt…

Ok, finally 20 is done. I'm happy! Anyway, I'm sorry that it's slightly shorter than normal, buut I had to do it. Please remember to REVIEW? I love hearing feedback from everyone, and I'm especially going to need it for the up coming chapters. Thanks everyone!